The Eve of Christmas!

Christmas eve is always full of lots of fun traditions! Now, if my brain was working properly, (I was a tad bit out of it this Christmas season- wink, wink) I could remember most of them:). Here it goes:

We spent most of the morning visiting-me, and making all the preparations-everyone else, for that evening. Sara and I went to the mall and did some pretty impressive last minute shopping. She was literally pulling me in and out of stores and I enjoyed (as much as I could) being in a fog as I followed on her shirt tails. Love her!

That evening we watched as all 5 boys opened their matching jammies from Mammy. They were so excited and just like we did when we were kids, they immediately put them on!

On each of their packages were their teddy bears and their "magic reindeer food" that Aunt Jeri sent them. They went outside and sprinkled it all over the snow so that Santa would be guided to the house.

We then proceeded to act out the Nativity story. Justin read from the scriptures, Todd and Martha made a very cute Mary and Joseph, Kendall was the angel , and our three wise men as Papa said, transformed into the three wise guys.

We ate, and laughed, and ate, and told stories, and ate, and played games, and ate, and got Santa his plate of cookies,and ate, and got the little ones to bed, and....ATE!

Like Father, like son!

The whole living room was then transformed into a scene from Santa's workshop. We had lots of boy elves come in and help Santa put together bikes, scooters, and more bikes. All the girls went downstairs to finish wrapping gifts. We saw all the little elves fill the stockings and eat!

Sometimes, You Can't.

That is how I was feeling when I was trying to get ONE picture where all the boys were showing me some cuteness at the same time. Instead we ended up taking tons that were making us laugh. The "flops" turned into a really fun night before we headed to the Christmas party.

Cole-2, Nathan-4, Kendall-2

Having Fun in Grand Junction!

COUSINS!
Defiantly our favorite reason to go there!

Lisa put it best: walking to the park, painting all her mismatched furniture black, monkey pancakes- yum! lots of snuggles with Grandma and Grandpa on the couch, painting with watercolors, playing the rainbow game, Heavenly white chicken chili, window shopping downtown, digging in the mountain, making deluxe paper airplanes, playing poker with candy corns, solving cryptograms, taking naps, watching the fifth season of the Office, Biscuit supreme and buttermilk pancakes at the Pufferbelly restaurant.

Having a blast at the Christmas gift exchange party, "tooth-paste flavored" cookies-not eating them- saying they were horrible-and then realizing the lady sitting next to Lisa was the one who made them! SHOOT! Going home with tons of delicious goodies, a cookie jar, and dang cute candy dish.

Hannah's 5th birthday party at the Kidplex, Italian breakfast burritos, getting hooked to Zuma, going to the ward Christmas party in matching outfits, listening to Joel sing "O Holy Night", touring the neighborhood Christmas lights, seeing thousands of birds in the sky,

A Nativity lesson on Sunday, eating at the food court in the mall, Pitching an 8 man tent in the living room and eating hot dogs and smores, waking up to the worst storm in over 15 years, playing in the snow, going with Lisa and Joel to their ultrasound appointment and finding out I'm getting a NIECE! Playing Quiddler, Dutch Apple Cranberry scone Carmel Sundae, seeing Santa at the mall! WHEW!

Making Gingerbread Houses!

Woops!

This is what happens when you get your older brother to spin you fast as a Ferrari on the autobahn, around and around your Mammies chair and you FLY off into your Papa's custom baseboard and split your head to the skull.

A strawberry Popsicle from the doctor, a vanilla ice cream cone from Mickie D's, and 5 staples later... we are going to survive! Okay, breathe.

Here's To 2010!

We hope everyone has a most wonderful year full of puppy dogs, rainbows, ice cream cones, sunsets, Friday night dates, splashing in puddles, and celebrations! Yes, even celebrations of depression and anxiety!

Justin Withdrawls!

The boys and I have been visiting family for awhile and left Justin to keep the home fires burning. There are several things I miss about him but here are my top ten:

1. Bites of his gourmet quesadillas and salsa.
2. Hearing the kids cheer when he walks through the front door.
3. Foot rubs on the couch EVERY night!
4. Playing cards when the kids go to bed.
5. Watching him do sit ups and push ups in the living room:).
6. Him constantly reassuring me with his "pure positive energy".
7. His happy outlook on life that seeps through his veins and hopefully someday will rub off on me.
8. That deep booming voice with lots of chuckles as he tells me about his day.
9. His twinkly eyes. DREAMY if I do say so myself.
10. His eagerness to make sure every little thing, up to the smallest details are taken care of.

Sigh.... I miss him.

Dad's Weekend with the kiddos

Can I just say that I love my kids they are so fun. I took the day off work on Friday before Thanksgiving, because Alisa went down to her Aunt Jeri's for the weekend and I got to hang out with the boys. We had a lot of fun for sure.
Pappa got to spend the night both Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The kids totally loved that!
Friday
- Nathan got to go to his Thanksgiving feast at Ms. Melody's preschool and got to be the Indian!
- Kendall and I went to Costco and stocked up on some goodies
- Then we all went on a walk to the pet store and Redbox to pick out a fun movie, on the way you wouldn't believe what we saw?!?!! Yep that's right the OSCAR MAYER WIENER MOBILE, Nathan spelled bologna and got a wiener whistle (Which I might throw away pretty soon) and they got to send a hot dog post card to Grandma for free in Grand Junction. They loved it!
- After all the excitement Kendall took a short nap and Nathan and I watched Space Buddies
- Then we went to go visit Grandpa which is always fun!
- The day was over and off to bed we all went
Can you believe that was only Friday!!!
Saturday
- Pappa and Cindi watched the kids while I got to go to basketball and Cindi brought over Muffins from "My Favorite Muffins" man she is soooo the best!!
- Then we spent the rest of the morning at Pappa's hanging out
- After that we ate lunch and took a good nap
- Then off to the store for some bananas, mac n cheese and just to get out, then back to Pappa's for some more fun!
- We got home and read books, called Mommy, did baths and hung out then off to bed they went
There was never a dull moment

*Kendall Talking to Mommy*

Sunday
- I got up and got the kids ready for church and made it on time and before Brandon and Cody!! (our family next door) I couldn't believe it. I even did the kids' hair and everything, man did I miss Alisa cause I just don't have the touch with the hair, they still looked like they just got out of bed...
- Then nap time and time to clean the house before Alisa got home
- Then back over to Pappa's house so ours didn't get messy again HAHA
- Then after lots of play and fun we went to the Airport to Pick up Mammy and Alisa, Nathan passed out in 5min and Kendall stayed awake the entire time, not getting home until after 9p.m.
I had a blast with my little guys and I'm glad Alisa had a good time away, but I sure am glad Alisa is back!!

Any Guesses?

The Black Eyed Peas!!! HAHAHA

Stacey, Dora, Natalie, Yours Truly, Tanna, Jen, Debbie

The Boys On Halloween!

Here is my creature- "TheWhite Darth Maul". The man that makes Halloween the holiday that it is for us.

The kicker is that my kids aren't even scared of him. They are so used to Justin dressing up, that it doesn't even phase them. Nathan told Justin, "Yeeeesssss dad! You scared that little kid!" Oh great!
I never knew that spiders were so warm and sweet! This little guy was loving to say trick or treat! He could not believe that you got candy for saying that! His favorite part was passing out the candy. He would waddle up to the door to see all the kids dressed up and when they left he would listen for the goblin that lived in the house next door.

My mom and I borrowed the dead grandparent masks and tried to scare the kids that came to the door. After trying to be REALLY scary, one group of kids said to my mom, "Hi there little lady!"
Nathan has tons of extra batteries! He LOVED trick-or-treating! He would have gone all night if he could.

Hip-Chaw!

I love this cowboy! This was the second year I got to be the helper for the Halloween party. I hate missing out on the fun so I told Miss Melody I would be her official "party mom".

Nathan loves learning new things at school. He loves art and enjoys snack time beyond belief!
I've had a few moms tell me that their daughters want to marry Nathan. Holy cow, I'm not ready for this yet!